Burst pipeline serving Staleen Water Treatment Plant Repaired

Irish Water confirmed on 31 May that the leak was repaired on the pipeline serving the Staleen Water Treatment Plant affecting customers in Drogheda and East Meath.

Irish Water said that repair crews were on site throughout Wednesday night (30 May) to excavate the area and locate the burst and the repair was completed Thursday afternoon.

The network is now recharging.

Tap Water (Pic: InsideIreland.ie)

Irish Water said that the water supply was maintained ‘for the majority of customers’.

“Water supply is being maintained to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and we are also prioritising schools, nursing homes, crèches and vulnerable customers. We have contacted vulnerable customers in Louth and East Meath and Irish Water and Louth and Meath County Councils are coordinating efforts to ensure bottled water is delivered to them today.”

Irish Water said that it has approved the budget and design for a new pipeline to replace the existing lines. The utility added that it is in the ‘final stages of resolving all of the contractual and regulatory issues’.

“We plan to begin mobilising construction of the pipeline within weeks, with the aim of having the programme completed by year end,” it said.

Every day 1.7 billion litres of water is distributed through an underground network of over 63,000km of pipes. According to Irish Water, almost half of this clean water is lost through leaks.

In order to reduce this leakage Irish Water said its programme of works will ‘invest over €500 million’ to upgrade the public water mains network over the next four years.

Inside Ireland

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